Texas Governor Rick Perry, a potential
2016 presidential candidate, on Wednesday compared being gay to
having a drinking problem.

Perry, a Republican, made his comments
while addressing the Commonwealth Club of California in San
Francisco.

An audience member asked Perry his
thoughts on so-called “reparative therapy,” which attempts to
alter the sexual orientation of people from gay to straight. Over
the weekend, the Texas Republican Party endorsed the practice in its
platform, despite opposition from professional mental health
associations. California has outlawed “ex-gay” therapy to
minors.

Commonwealth Club interviewer Greg
Dalton followed up by asking Perry whether he believes being gay is a
disorder.

“Whether or not you feel compelled to
follow a particular lifestyle or not, you have the ability to decide
not to do that,” Perry answered. “I may have the genetic coding
that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do
that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.”